Gas-generator.



PATENTBD AUG. I3, 1907.

V. SEPULCHRE. GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED 11.52.23, 1906:

@uw WW .ya @w W my Afro/ffm VICTOR sErULoHRE, oF PARIS, FRANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application tiled March 23, 1906. Serial N0. 807,707.

To all 'who-m 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR SEPULCHRE, a subject of the .Kingdom of Belgium, and a resident of Paris, in the Republic of France, engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Gas-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a blast gas generator for the production, in a. closed receptacle, with cornbustibles of all kinds, coal, coke, lignite, peat and in particular with the waste of these combustibles which are but little utilizable or utilizable with difficulty of gases adapted for all purposes.

This gas generator is characterized by arrangements suoli that the materials treated therein undergo in it a complete transformation, and that everything that they contain, whether useful products or waste, can only issue therefrom in a gaseous or a liquid state, utilizable gas, distillation products and the rest (pig, matte or raw slag) in fusion, these` arrangements consisting in a retort entering the shaft of the gas generator to a predetermined depth, and in giving to this shaft an appropriate form so as` to permit of the application of the operative methods of blast furnaces into which the air is blown under pressure, which is an essential condition for realizing the high temperatures necessary for the object to be attained and specified above.

The accompanying drawing shows by way of example, in vertical axial section, a constructional form of gas generator in accordance with this invention.

The shaft a of the gas generator supported by columns b comprises a Crucible c with forecrucible; above this Crucible a cylindrical part d or hearth; then another frusto-conical part e dared outwardly upwards forming the boshes, finally the upper part, already designated by the letter a and forming the shaft of the furnace properly so called. The distillation retort enters this shaft, which thus presents the profile'of a blast furnace, this retort being constituted by two concentric envelops, one cylindre-conical g-h and the other bi-eonical i-j arranged one relatively to the other in such a manner that the horizontal section of the retort increases from above downwards. This retort is suspended from the cover k of the generator by means'of screw threaded rods m held upon the cover k by nuts n and attached by their lower extremities to an `annular cup o fitted to the exterior of the retort. This arrangement, which is superfluous for a regular production of gas with a given combustible, permits of exactly regulating the depth to which the retort should be caused to enter, according to the different cases. The cup o makes with a plunging cylinder p attached to the cover of the gas genera tor, a tight joint intended for isolating the interior of the retort from` the space q comprised between this retort and the shaft a and through which the useful gases pass before issuing through the opening f. The central opening of the generator is closed by a charging hopper of the double cup-and-cone two flxed hoppers r and s and the two movable cones t u capable of separate operation. Holes formed in the cover permit of the introduction and manipulation of slice bars, pokers or the like o for destroying, if necessary, any cakes formed by the fuel introduced into the retort. Other holes or windows formed in the walls of the generator likewise'permit of stirring the caking produced below the retort or in the boshes. Finally the gas generator comprises a tapping hole yw situated at the side of the Crucible, two rows of twyers, one :c at the base and the other y at the upper part of the hearth (I, and if desired one or more communication pipes z having their origin at the upper part of and inside the retort, for taking the distillation gases or returning them into the `boshes e through the twyers y. .ln this vase. a Koerting or other blower l of a known type is arranged upon the pipe z. Air and steam may be injected through the upper row of twyers y as in other gas generators.

The reactions taking place during the normal working ofthe apparatus described above are as follows: The air,

system, presenting the heated or not, but without steam, injected at a suitable pressure through the lower row of twyers a; produces a Zone of intense combustion in the hearth, fusing the residues in producing carbonio acid (CO2). This latter,

to Which a fresh quantity of gas introduced or produced by the upper row of twyers y is added, encounters in the boshes e a large mass of incandescent fuel, in Contact with which, by the decomposition of the carbonio acid, the hydrocarbons and steam, the useful gases are formed, these being carbonio oXid, hydrogen, and hydric carbids. These gases are conducted away at the lower partv of the retort, the exact depth of the outlet being regulated by the screw suspension which 1s provided for the purpose. The, gases leave through the opening f formed at the top of the Wall of the shaft, after the gases have heated and distilled the volatile materials of the fresh combustible charged into the retort, vwhich they envelop on all sides. The large section of passage q formed between this retort and the outer Wall of the gas generator, facilitates this action at the same time that it assists the purification of the gases by th e fall of the dust, in retarding their velocity. As the charging apparatus hermetically closes the retort, the products of distillation are despatched by the force of their liberation downwards into the boshes e Where they decompose in contact with the incandescent fuel if they are not taken directly through the pipe z in order to treat them `separately for the purpose of recuperating the sub-products or for conducting them into the boshes e through the twyers y. They may also be returned there after treatment. In order to facilitate or produce the fusion of the einders and the separation of the metallic mattes or pigs obtained With certain fu els in the zoned, an appropriate flux may be added to the/fuel if desired. lf, this flux comprises limestone, the carbonio acid is liberated therefrom in the distillation retort and owing to the fact tained in the fuel and insures the complete combustion of the carbon.

2. Owing to the forced passage of the gases first pro- 4duced through a considerable mass of incandescent carbon, the transformation of the carbonio acid (00,) into carbonio oxid (CO) is as complete as possible.

3. The'di's'tillation obtained separately of the volatile substances ofthe fuel presents multiple advantages and permits of obtaining from them all the advantages of which they are capable. They may either beutilized separately, or treated alone, for example for recuperating the sub-products or for purifying them, in apparatus much smaller than if it were necessary to pass all the gas produced through it; or again they may be merely discharged or got rid of in any suitable manner if these volatile substances are not adapted for the production of the desired gas or contain harmful substances. Finally, if the volatile substances are to be decomposed into better gas in the generator itself, the dispositions of this generator permit, either by the simple effect of the compression produced by their liberation, of letting them descend through the mass of fuel down to the reduction zone, or of conducting them there by means of a Koerting injector, fan or other appropriate apparatus.

4. The dispositions of the generator permit of treating in it all kinds of fuel-coaL coke, lignite, peat and in particular their Waste.'

5. The operation of this generator is very simple and absolutely uniform, by varying the quantity of air, the production of the gas may always be rendered proportionate to its consumption. The quality of the gas is always the same and does not depend upon the state of a grate which is attended to With greater or less care.

6. In facilitating the removal of the residues which may be run directly into trucks and in dispensing with all grates and the unnecessary work that they frequently necessitate owing to the dust and harmful and noxious discharges of gas, labor is thus economized and the strength and health of the operatives is safeguarded.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what l claim isz- 1 1. In a gas generator, a shaft, and an inverted distillation retort formed'of two concentric envelops suspended from the' center of the top of the shaft, said retort opening towards the bottom and flaring downwards.

2. In a gas'generator, a shaft, an inverted distillation retort suspended from the center of the top of the shaft, cup and cone device for closing said retort, and means for adjustably suspending said retort into the shaft.

3. In a gas generator,A a shaft, an inverted distillation retort within the shaft, and means for adjustably suspending the retort from theA top of the shaft, consisting of a cup around the upper part of the retort, and screw bolts attached to said cup and to the top of the shaft.

4. In a gas generator, a shaft, an inverted distillation retort suspended from the center of the cover of the shaft, means for tightly insulating the inner space of the retort from the annular space between the retort and the shaft walls, consisting of a' cup at the upper part of the retort, a cylindrical shell projecting from the cover of the shaft into the cup and sand (or the like) in the cup in order to prevent the passage of gases.

In a gas generator, a shaft, and a retort suspended in the shaft and consisting of two envelops, the inner one being double conical and the outer one cylindrical with flaring lower end.

In testimony of which I have hereunto placed my hand at Paris, France, this ninth day of March, 1906.

VICTOR SEIULCIIRE.

In the presence off- AUGUSTUS E. INGRA, HENRY SCHWAB. 

